Low N2_{2}O and variable CH4_{4} fluxes from tropical forest soils of the Congo Basin

Globally, tropical forests are assumed to be an important source of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N$_{2}$O) and sink for methane (CH$_{4}$). Yet, although the Congo Basin comprises the second largest tropical forest and is considered the most pristine large basin left on Earth, in situ N$_{2}$O and CH$_{4}$ flux measurements are scarce. Here, we provide multi-year data derived from on-ground soil flux (n = 1558) and riverine dissolved gas concentration (n = 332) measurements spanning montane, swamp, and lowland forests. Each forest type core monitoring site was sampled at least for one hydrological year between 2016 - 2020 at a frequency of 7-14 days. We estimate a terrestrial CH$_{4}$ uptake (in kg CH$_{4}$-C ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$) for montane (−4.28) and lowland forests (−3.52) and a massive CH$_{4}$ release from swamp forests (non-inundated 2.68; inundated 341). All investigated forest types were a N$_{2}$O source (except for inundated swamp forest) with 0.93, 1.56, 3.5, and −0.19 kg N$_{2}$O-N ha$^{-1}$ yr$^{-1}$ for montane, lowland, non-inundated swamp, and inundated swamp forests, respectively

Gigantism with Pituitary Macroadenoma: An Unusual Variant of McCune-Albright Syndrome

Extreme physical size and stature (gigantism) is a rare condition in childhood, and when it is present it is rarely due to growth hormone (GH) excess, but more frequently of genetic etiology (familial tall stature, Klinefelter syndrome, Sotos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, etc.). GH hypersecretion is usually by pituitary adenomas, even though other cases such as somatotroph hyperplasia may be involved. Endocrine gigantism typically occurs as an isolated disorder, but it may also be a feature of some syndromes such as neurofibromatosis, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) or McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS). In its classic form, MAS is characterised by precocious puberty, caf\ue8-au-lait skin spots, and polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. An unusual form of this complex, heterogeneous disorder may arise in conjunction with GH excess and/or other endocrinopathies and abnormalities. In the literature there are very few case reports of MAS associated with GH excess that are caused by secreting pituitary adenomas. Most are reported as acromegaly since they are diagnosed in the third decade of life. Paediatric reports are even more uncommon. Herein we describe the case of an 11 year-old boy with GH hypersecretion

The Role of SHOX Gene in Idiopathic Short Stature: an Italian Multicenter Study

If we exclude the patients with Leri- Weill syndrome who presented a SHOX gene deletion in 5.4%, in our cohort of patients with ISS the incidence of SHOX gene point mutations was very low (1.5%), suggesting that the presence of mesomelia, minor skeletal abnormalities, and eventually subtle radiographic signs are essential for requiring genetic analysis properly